Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Challenge to renewal of Didipio agreement
Residents, church representatives, civic organizations, and the Nueva Vizcaya provincial government filed a court case seeking to nullify the 2021 renewal of OceanaGold's mining agreement, alleging deficiencies in consultation, environmental review, and local-government requirements.
2021
South Carolina regulators fine Haile Gold Mine
Fine or penalty
South Carolina regulators fined Haile Gold Mine $100,000 for environmental-rule violations. DHEC said the violations included excessive mercury releases, failures to submit required pollution test results, misleading statements, and operating without a required permit. The mine said it hired an independent expert to audit its environmental performance and installed a mercury pollution control system.
Company response
Investigation — Haile Gold Mine
The Haile mine issued a statement Thursday, saying it has hired an independent, third-party expert to audit the mine's environmental performance.
Remediation — Haile Gold Mine
Haile says it has installed a $1 million mercury pollution control system.
Source excerpt
in this case, DHEC said the company released excessive amounts of mercury, failed to submit pollution test results as required, provided misleading statements and failed to get a DHEC permit.
Haile says it has installed a $1 million mercury pollution control system.
South Carolina regulators have fined a large gold mine $100,000 for breaking environmental rules
2020
Police dispersal of Didipio residents
A police-escorted fuel delivery to the Didipio site resulted in the dispersal of residents protesting at the access blockade. Philippine and United Nations human-rights bodies criticized the use of force, while OceanaGold said fuel was needed to operate a mine water pump and prevent flooding.
2019
Didipio agreement and blockade dispute
After the original Philippine agreement expired, local authorities and residents opposed renewal and restricted access to the mine through checkpoints and blockades. The dispute continued until the national government approved renewal in 2021.
2016
El Salvador arbitration dispute
A World Bank tribunal dismissed OceanaGold's compensation claim against El Salvador concerning the absence of mining permits and ordered the company to contribute to legal costs.
2011
Philippine Commission on Human Rights resolution
The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines issued a resolution concerning what it described as an alarming human-rights situation involving residents of Didipio and recommended consideration of withdrawing the company's agreement.
2008
Allegations concerning demolition of Didipio homes
OceanaGold was accused of involvement in the demolition of at least 187 homes during construction of the Didipio mine. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights investigated complaints including alleged violence by security personnel and later described serious human-rights concerns.